Hugo Chávez wins re-election to extend socialist rule in Venezuela

Hugo Chávez defeats opposition rival Henrique Capriles in the Venezuelan
presidential election, with thousands of his supporters celebrating on the
streets of Caracas.

9:41AM BST 08 Oct 2012

Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chávez won a close-run election, quashing the opposition's best chance at unseating him in 14 years and cementing himself as a dominant figure in modern Latin American history.

Chávez's victory will extend his rule of the OPEC member state to two decades, though he is recovering from cancer and the possibility of a recurrence hangs over him.

Jubilant supporters poured onto the streets of Caracas to celebrate the victory of a man who has near-Messianic status among Venezuela's poor. And there was relief too among leftist allies around the region - from Cuba to Bolivia - who rely on his oil-financed generosity.

"I send my words of recognition to all of those who voted against us. I send out a special recognition for your democratic talent, for your participation, for the civic demonstration that you have given today despite not agreeing with the Bolivarian proposition," Chávez said from the balcony of Miraflores palace.

The 58-year-old Chávez took 54 percent of the vote, with 90 percent of the ballots counted, compared with 44 percent for young opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, the electoral authority said.